Would buying Panasonic plasma be a smart move?

[ADWyatt]

In a previous post I had reported that news services have announced Panasonic's decision to leave the plasma business in March 2014, although Panasonic has not made any official announcement at this time. My initial reaction was to forget about purchasing a 65" VT65, and wait instead for three years until OLED would become affordable and pretty much refined.

Now I'm beginning to rethink that strategy. Selling off my 58" VT25 would make my purchase price of the VT65 right at $1,750 USD. I wouldn't have the slightest problem keeping it for four years, by which time OLED, or a competing technology, would be a very attractive consumer purchase. And there is no doubt that the VT65 is a substantial upgrade from the VT25.

But what about repair issues? Will Panasonic continue to stock parts for repairing their plasma TVs after they leave the business? And for how long? An agent I spoke with at Cleveland Plasma stated that he thought they would be required by law to stock parts for seven years, although he may not have been sure. Even so, it seems reasonable that Panasonic would certainly keep parts in stock for at least four years.

But what about waiting to see if Panasonic is coming out with a 2014 model, like a VT70? They very likely will, but as the company has devoted most of its resources to the development of OLED and 4K, it seems to me that any plasma upgrade would be marginal at best, and really inconsequential.

If my reasoning in the above statements make sense, purchasing a 65" VT65 would be my best option for upgrading from the VT25, which I really want to do. But there may be flaws in my thinking on this. So I would ask anyone who would like to comment to feel free in giving your opinion on my thinking here. I know I sound ambivalent, but I'm trying to consider all angles for a potential upgrade.

Thanks in advance for all opinions.